Tuesday, 26 March ‘24
This week’s overview of key events and links to essential reading.
Also see
Court Orders Further Investigation on Russian Accused of Torture
Investigators will now check whether the accused is deceased, a prisoner of war or a fugitive.
Prosecuting the Crime of Aggression
Some states are backing the establishment of a special court to reflect that this crime is one that impacts the global order.
Tuesday, 26 March ‘24
This week’s overview of key events and links to essential reading.
Two Russian Women Issued Suspicion of Deportation of Ukrainian Children
Investigators of Ukraine’s security services (SBU) reported the suspicion in absentia against two Russian nationals for deporting two young children from Ukraine to Russia. Inna Varlamova, 56, the wife of Serghey Mironov, a lawmaker leading the Just Russia Party, and Duma deputy Yana Lantratova, 35, are accused of violating the laws and customs of war under Part 2 of Article 28 and Part 1 of Article 438 of the criminal code.
According to the investigation, the two women travelled to Kherson on "official visit" in 2022 while the city was under Russian occupation and took two children from the local children's home. The ten-month-old girl and two-year-old boy were taken to Moscow, allegedly for medical examination in a hospital. The Ukrainian investigation established that the deported children had no physical disabilities and did not require medical intervention. Once in Russia the two children were issued Russian-style birth certificates.
In November 2023, Russian media reported that Mironov and Varlamova had adopted a ten-month-old girl from Ukraine, whose personal data – name and place of birth – were changed.
Fifteen Russian soldiers Convicted in Absentia in Yahidne Case
On March 11, the Chernihiv district court sentenced 15 Russian soldiers accused of harsh treatment of the civilian population during the occupation of Yahidne, a village in Chernihiv region. The servicemen forced 368 adults and children into the basement of the local school in March 2022 and held them hostage for nearly a month. The villagers were used as human shields to protect the command post located in the school. The 15 servicemen are: Amir Kendenov, Buyan Dorzha, Arzhaan Saai, Vitaly Mongush, Sain Kendena, Dorzha Demir-ool, Sholban Dambar-ool, Buyan Dadar-ool, Aleksey Borysov, Sayan Khomushka, Ariana Khertek, Eres Oorzhak, Nazita Mongush, Aigarim Mongush, Siin-ool Suvan.
The court found them guilty of violating the laws and customs of war under Part 1 of Article 28 and Part 1 of Article 438 of the criminal code and sentenced each to 12 years of imprisonment in absentia. During the court debates the defendants’ defence attorneys stressed the lack of evidence against the 15 soldiers; they have 30 days to appeal the ruling.
Russian National Guard Sentenced to 11 Years in Absentia
On March 11, the Solomyansky district court of Kyiv sentenced Russian soldier Andrey Khitrov to 11 years in prison in absentia for the cruel treatment of civilians during the occupation of Hostomel, near the capital, under Part 1 of Art. 28 and Part 1 of Art. 438 of the criminal code. According to the investigation, in March 2022 the 34-year-old member of the National Guard, from western Siberia’s region of Kemerovo, and his accomplices searched apartments, checked documents and seized mobile phones. In one of the houses, the accused and his accomplices forced civilian men to undress. They then kept them in a basement, where they beat them, simulated executions and witheld food and water. The Russian servicemen said their actions were “filtration measures”. After the town was de-occupied, a man found Khitrov’s driving license in his apartment. During the trial, the victims recognised the accused from the photo on the document.
The defence lawyer asked for the minimum sentence of eight years claiming that the trial did not investigate “the possible commission of a crime [by Khitrov] as a result of executing an order”. The defence has 30 days to appeal the decision.
